In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle welcomes Anne Newman, the General Manager of Christchurch Adventure Park. Anne, recently named the Akiaki Emerging Tourism Leader at the New Zealand Tourism Awards, shares insights into her career, the challenges she's faced, and the strategies she employs to lead effectively in the tourism industry. The conversation covers topics such as crisis management, team motivation, and the future potential of Christchurch Adventure Park....

In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, Michelle welcomes Alex Diethelm from Weekend Getaways and Dogalong. They discuss Alex's journey from Switzerland to New Zealand, her career in tourism, and how COVID-19 spurred her entrepreneurial ventures. Michelle reflects on insights from the recent Tourism Summit in Auckland, including standout speakers and the Tourism Awards. Alex shares her experiences in building her businesses, the challenges faced, and the rewarding relationships formed with...

In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle continues the TRENZ Unpacked series, providing valuable tips and industry insights for those attending this important tourism trade event. This episode features Cess from Ngāi Tahu Tourism, an industry expert with 30 years of experience, particularly in the Asian markets.   Cess shares his journey, discusses the importance of trade channels, provides tips for new sellers, and offers valuable advice on cultural considerations and...

In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell interviews Natasha Hoffman, the digital marketing advisor for Zealandia in Wellington. Natasha shares her career journey, key social media strategies, and the viral success of Zealandia's creative content. Listeners will gain valuable tips on developing an authentic brand voice, staying on top of social media trends, and balancing organic and paid reach.    00:00 Welcome to the Tourism Chat Show 02:07 Upcoming Episode...

Navigating New Zealand's Tourism: From Dive Masters to Sustainable Practices   In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle dives into New Zealand's dynamic tourism industry with special guest Tim Barke. They discuss Tim's fascinating journey from dive master to General Manager of Westervelt NZ, where he shares valuable insights on how tourism can help achieve community goals and the power of storytelling in guest relations. The conversation covers key topics like managing Lake...

In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell introduces the 'TRENZ Unpacked' series, highlighting the significance of the ongoing TRENZ event.   Special guest Thomas Orr from Helisika shares his success as a first-time exhibitor this year, focusing on initial expectations, the benefits of shared stands, cost-effectiveness, and the importance of relationship-building. The discussion explores preparation strategies for appointments, personalised pitches, effective...

This episode marks the final installment of the 'TRENZ Unpacked' series on The Tourism Chat Show, where host Michelle dives deep into the anticipated TRENZ event in Wellington, featuring an exclusive interview with Rebecca Ingram, Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa.   They discuss the event's focus on maximizing business-to-business (B2B) connections, the sustainable funding crisis facing Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs), advocacy issues, and practical tips for attendees. The...

The episode features an interview with Hadyn Fitzpatrick from Tourism New Zealand, who shares insights on tapping into the North American market, the benefits of airline connectivity for New Zealand tourism, and the strategic approach to education and partnership in the industry.   Additionally, we discuss marketing New Zealand to North American travellers, overcoming challenges related to seasonality and distance, and leveraging technology and traditional sales channels to maximize tourism...

This episode of The Tourism Chat Show hosted by Michelle Caldwell, focuses on the upcoming TRENZ 2024 event being hosted in Wellington for the first time. The episode features an in-depth discussion with Jo Heaton from WellingtonNZ, who provides insights into the event's preparations and the excitement surrounding it. Highlights include the new opportunities presented by Tākina, Wellington's Exhibition and Convention Centre, which is essential for hosting such a significant event. The...

This episode of The Tourism Chat Show hosted by Michelle Caldwell features Olivia Ponniah from Liv &Travel, a UK-based independent travel company launched right before the pandemic. Liv shares her experiences as a first-time attendee of the New Zealand tourism trade show, TRENZ, focusing on her search for unique New Zealand travel experiences that cater to luxury travellers. She emphasises the importance of building relationships with local suppliers and seeks to bring New Zealand closer...

In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle discusses the future of the tourism industry and the role of workforce development in achieving sustainable and resilient tourism. Michelle introduces Alex Dykman from Grow Tourism, who shares insights on the inception of Grow Tourism, a SaaS product aimed at providing contemporary, engaging, and practical learning experiences for tourism professionals. The company aims to support the industry's transformation towards sustainability,...

In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell introduces listeners to Thomas Orr from Helisika  and Paul Chaplow from Whanganui and Partners, who are attending the tourism event TRENZ for the first time. The episode focuses on their companies' backgrounds, their motivation for participating in TRENZ, and their preparation strategies. Thomas Orr discusses Helisika's approach to showcasing their helicopter-based adventure services and their hopes for gaining exposure. Paul...

This episode of the Tourism Chat Show, hosted by Michelle Caldwell, focuses on preparing for and maximizing the benefits of attending TRENZ. Guest Brad "Paddo' Patterson, a seasoned sales manager with over 20 years of experience at TRENZ, shares his insights. Discussion topics include the importance of follow-ups, effectively selecting and scheduling appointments, researching buyers, and strategically approaching different types of sales calls. Brad emphasizes the value of...

The discussion revolves around the journey of Island Aviation in Auckland, focusing on its sustainable initiatives. Chris Sattler, from Island Aviation, outlines the measures they have taken to reduce their environmental impact, their focus on community engagement, and future goals regarding sustainable aviation technologies. Some of these efforts include reforestation projects and carbon offsetting. He also candidly discusses the complexity of transitioning to electric or hydrogen powered...

In this edition of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle provides a thorough overview of how to work with trade in the tourism industry. She offers essential tips and information including refreshing market understanding, handling trade partnerships, and maintaining administrative capabilities. She talks about the importance of marketing collateral, setting and adjusting pricing, collaboration with other institutions, and maintaining efficient booking systems. Also, Michelle emphasizes the...

In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle interviews Helen Hayes, a multi-award winning travel writer and editor from Australia. We delve deep into the art of storytelling in tourism. Helen shares some insider secrets about effective storytelling to attract travel media attention. She elaborates on the significance of authenticity, passion, and unique experiences in creating compelling stories. Further, she offers valuable advice on networking with editors, hosting journalists,...

This episode of the Tourism Chat Show features an insightful chat with Tom Collier, the owner of Kaewa Tours. As a first-time attendee at TRENZ this year, Tom shares his experience, success, and advice for those considering attending. He advocates for the value of the TRENZ show as integral to his business's growth and the capacity for networking and establishing fruitful relationships. Tom touches on his journey, from the corporate world to establishing his own tour guiding business, sharing...

Welcome to our 100th episode!   We are excited to welcome Peter Harding, the Managing Director of Grand Pacific Tours to today's show.  We'll cover off Peter's career journey, the evolution of coach touring in New Zealand, the shift towards a more discerning and intimate travel experience with smaller vehicle capacities, and the success of their highly rated Ultimate and Premium Economy coach tours. Peter and Michelle delve into marketing strategies, the impact of technology and the...

We are back with our first in a series of special episodes dedicated to TRENZ.   Applications have opened for sellers and buyers open today so it's time for you to start planning your international trade activity for 2024! We have Lou Baddiley from Rotorua NZ on the show today. Lou was a first timer to TRENZ this year so shares some great insights into what the show entails and some great tips on how to get ready for it from an RTO perspective.  She outlines her role as an RTO in the complex...

Welcome to this week's episode of The Tourism Chat Show! Our guest is Kumar Swaminathan from Xperienz, and he shares fascinating insights on several topics. We delve into his journey into the US market, exploring the opportunities and challenges he's encountered along the way. Kumar also provides his perspective on the world of luxury and premium travel, and he explains his strategies for identifying and connecting with his 'ideal customers' who seek these exclusive experiences. In addition,...

Totally Tourism's Mark Quickfall joins us on the podcast today to discuss his 30 year love affair with the tourism industry.  We cover the changes and challenges he's seen throughout his time in tourism, what has changed for the better (and worse) and he shares his views on governance and advice for operators starting out in the tourism industry.  We tackle the hot topic of tourism in Milford Sound and what's required to get things done.  And in the quick fire we ask Mark who the most famous...

It has been a while since you've heard from us, but we are still here, and still committed to publishing great content for you to enjoy.  This is a new era for our podcast, with a refreshed look and feel, new music and a great line up of guests from not only New Zealand, but around the world!  This short episode outlines our plans and we'll be back next week with our very first guest.    Powered by: Destinate NZ

In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Tourism Industry Aotearoa's Chief Executive, Rebecca Ingram. We delve into her first year in the role, the various projects she has been involved in, and the challenges she foresees in the industry. However, the primary focus of our discussion is on TRENZ, New Zealand's most significant tourism trade show. With only two weeks left until the event, we explore the changes made to the traditional program, the new additions to the event, and the...

As the TRENZ trade show in Ōtautahi Christchurch approaches in three weeks, we're sharing tips on how to make the most of your time there. We discuss the importance of preparation to ensure a smooth week, using appointment times to build relationships and gain market insights, structuring presentations during appointments, and following up after the event. We're fortunate to have Adele Marsden from New Zealand Educational Tours, and Louise Bilbie and Rachel Wallace from ANZCRO in Australia,...